Features and Tools Usage How to Run
Users and Groups Assigns access rights to individual
users or groups
Use the (Local) Users and Groups category in Computer Management.
| Local Security Policy | Manages security policies for | Run secpol.msc. |
| users on the individual computer | ||
| Performance Monitor | Summarizes system performance | Use the Performance |
| > Monitoring Tools > | ||
| Performance Monitor node | ||
| in Computer Management or | ||
| run perfmon.msc. | ||
| Services | Manage system services | Use the Services node of |
| Computer Management or | ||
| run services.msc. | ||
| System Configuration | Displays basic system informa- | Open the System icon in the |
| tion (processor, Windows version, | Control Panel or right-click | |
| installed memory size, and so on) | Computer/My Computer | |
| and select Properties. | ||
| Task Scheduler | Schedules backup, maintenance, | Open icon in Administrative |
| and other tasks | Tools. | |
| Component Services | Manage COM+, DCOM, running | Open icon in Administrative |
| processes, and distributed transac- | Tools. | |
| tion coordinator | ||
| Data Sources (ODBC) | Manage data source providers | Open icon in Administrative |
| (SQL, MS Access, Excel, dBase, | Tools. | |
| Visio) | ||
| Print Management | Manage printers, print servers | Open icon in Administrative |
| Tools. | ||
| Windows Memory | Tests system and cache memory | Open icon in Administrative |
| Diagnostics | before booting into Windows | Tools. |
| Windows Firewall | Provides outbound as well as | Open icon in Administrative |
| with Advanced | inbound traffic filtering per rules | Tools. |
| Security | you create | |
| Resource Monitor | Real-time customizable display of | Search for Resource Monitor |
| CPU, disk, network, and memory | with Instant Desktop Search, | |
| activity (Figure 6-6). Easier to use | click Resource Monitor link | |
| than Performance Monitor. | after starting Performance | |
| Monitor, or run perfmon. | ||
| exe /res from the command | ||
| prompt | ||
Chapter 6: Operating Systems 115
Figure 6-5 Computer Management (Windows 7).
Figure 6-6 Resource Monitor (Windows 7).
MSCONFIG (Table 6-8) provides startup management features. MSConfig can be started from the Run menu in Windows XP, or by using the integrated Instant Desktop Search feature in Windows Vista and 7. Note that the Windows XP version of MSConfig also includes tabs for managing sys-tem.ini and win.ini configuration files used by legacy programs.
116 CompTIA A+ Quick Reference
Table 6-8 MSCONFIG Tabs
| Tab | Purpose |
| General | Specify Normal, Diagnostic, or Selective startup |
| Boot | Specify default operating system and advanced startup options |
| Services | Enable or disable Microsoft and third-party services |
| Startup | Enable or disable startup items |
| Tools | Access to troubleshooting, system reporting, and management tools |
Windows includes a Task Manager feature (Table 6-9) to provide real-time information about com-puter activity. To start Task Manager in Windows XP, press Ctrl+Alt+Del. In Windows Vista and 7, press Ctrl+Alt+Del to display a menu that includes a Start Task Manager option.